PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19836, 8 July 1926, Page 10

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

NOTES FROM PRESS GALLERY. (From Odb Own Coebbspondent.) ■WELLINGTON, July 7. WIRELESS ON SHIPS. Replying to a question by Mr E. JHoward, the Hon. Mr Anderson (Minister of Marine) said that having regard to the fact that the New Zealand regulations require wireless equipment to be carried on ships to a very much greater extent than do the regulations of any other country in the world, it is not considered necessary at the present time to extend further the regulations. Such rarud progress is being made in wireless that it is quite probable some new development will at no distant date reasonably enable the requirements to he further extended. SOUTH ISLAND REPRESENTATION. Replying to Mr Sidey’s question in regard to South Island representation the Hon. Mr M'Lcod (Minister in charge of the Electoral Department) replied that the statement of the Electoral Representation Commissioners in regard to South Island electorates has come under the notice of the Government, and, in conjunction with the hon. member’s question, will receive consideration. . JURIES AMENDMENT uLL. The Juries Amendment Bill, the private measure in which the Hoh. J. MacGregor proposed that a five-sixths majority shall apply in criminal cases, was read a second time in the Legislative Council to-day. The mover pointed out that the Bill had already been before legislature six times, and that on each occasion it had been passed by the Council, little opposition being expressed. The Bill proposed to abolish the unanimity of a jury in criminal cases, and he thought the same provision should also be made in respect to capital cases. He recalled the fact that Supreme Court judges had been asked in 1917 to express their opinions on the proposal and that seven favoured it and three others opposed lt MOTOR OMNIBUSES. To-day the Prime Minister gave notice to move that a Select Committee be appointed, to which shall be referred for consideration and report the regulations as to the control -of motor omnibuses gazetted in terms of the Board of Trade Act, 1919, and its amendments, together with any petitions presented to the House relating to the matter, the committee to have power to call for persona and papers, and to consist of Messrs J. S. Dickson, Fraser, Forbes, H. Holland, Howard, E. P. Lee, MacMillan, Savage, Sidey, Tapley, and Hon. Mr Williams. AFFORESTATION IN SOUTHLAND. Replying to Mr A. Hamilton’s question whether he will give the Southland people some idea of what he is prepared to do in the way of afforestation in Southland, with special reference to the extent and price of the land required, the lion. Mr Hawken (Commissioner of State Forests) said that the Government is at the present time negotiating for the acquisition of suitable areas for afforestation in Southland. DESTITUTE PERSONS. A draft of a new clause proposed to be added to the Destitute Persons Amendment Bill when the latter reaches the committee stage was circulated to-day by the Minister of Justice. The effect is to provide that all past, present,’ and future maintenance orders made by the Supremo Court in divorce or other matrimonial proceedings may be enforced as maintenance orders under the Destitute Persons Act.